The national protest held a fortnight ago in Valletta is considered by many as a watershed moment for the Nationalist Party. The party has clearly turned the corner and is making steady and significant gains on Labour, something we have been expecting for some time. Evidently, the fracas that is Labour in government is taking its toll on what until three years ago was considered an unassailable lead it had over a trounced Opposition; an Opposition which had the unenviable record of losing the 2013 election by 36,000 votes, but has been steadily inching itself into a far more credible position since then.
Probably ‘Panamagate’ was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. It seems that the latest turn of events has rocked not only the political establishment but has roused a sense of revulsion in a significant proportion of the populace. There is no point repeating the intrigue thus far. Rather it would be the case for a deeper understanding of the political implications of the Panama saga, its short-term and long-term consequences on the two major political parties, and no less the lasting fallout for the future of governance for our country.
Since 2013, the Nationalist Party has constantly pointed out the falling standards of governance; the steady erosion of the powers of our foremost institutions, with a government adopting a dangerous style of management. The style is one of derision, soft peddling and belittlement. The Office of the Ombudsman, the independence of Mepa and Identity Malta, the judiciary and fundamental rules of the European Union have become prime targets for Muscat’s government. Gone are the days of affable smiles which have been now transformed into unabashed sniggers coupled with an executive steamroller that has left many breathless. In the meantime we are regaled by Labour’s much hackneyed excuse of inexperience, over-enthusiasm and the spectre of a fifth column lurking in the shadows!
It appears that Muscat finds solace and comfort in what he terms a steady economy. Many of his sycophants have suggested that any wrongdoing perceived or real, is excusable so long as the money rolls in! This sense of presumptuousness and temerity have spawned the Cafe’ Premiere, the Gaffarena gaffe and now the Konrad Mizzi cases. The behaviour of this government becomes increasingly ever more brazen and imprudent.
These observations are surely not solely partisan. The chorus of disapproval championed by the PN has now been joined by that of civil society, trade unions and many NGOs. This is not to forget the admirable work a significant portion of our media, which has had a field day exposing sleaze after sleaze, smoking out a persistent stench of maladministration.
It was within this context that the protest held two weeks ago was a national and not a partisan show of force. Clearly the large assembly was not made exclusively of Nationalist supporters. It was above all a congregation of Maltese and Gozitan minds intent on expressing their disapproval of the Labour government’s behaviour. Their intent was to demonstrate their anger and frustration at an indolent administration faced with weekly stories of perceived and not so perceived corruption within its ranks. Stories and facts that reek of wholesale nepotism and crookedness possibly unseen in 50 years of independence!
Rest assured that the 6th March demonstration was just the beginning. A respected independent journalist said that “Labour has been wounded by the latest events”. Clearly the cleverly constructed image Labour displayed prior to the last general election is in tatters. Labour’s facade constructed on good governance, transparency and meritocracy has crumbled in no less than three years. Probably the worst is yet to come.
As the weeks and months roll by, the Maltese will reason more with their minds and less with their emotions. It is becoming manifestly clear that Labour has no intention of safeguarding the institutions so patiently put together over the last 30 years. The PN, with all its mistakes, appears to remain the sole guarantor consistently building a better Malta governed with respect to the rule of law. The unending task now is to convince the electorate that the Nationalist Party is a credible alternative come the next general election.
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The author is a PN candidate for the General Election on the Fourth District.